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In trading on Wednesday, shares of Crescent Point Energy Corp (Toronto: CPG) were yielding above the 7% mark based on its monthly dividend (annualized to $2.76), with the stock changing hands as low as $39.27 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market's total return.

In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Crescent Point Energy Corp, looking at the history chart for CPG below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 7% annual yield.